Freezing tray



Oct. 18, 1932" R. H. CHILTON FREEZING TRAY Filed Feb/2. 1951 INVENTOR yfim k J ATT RNEYS Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED srA'ras PATENT OFFICE RALPH H. CHILTON, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE INLAND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE rnnaznm may Application fled February 2, 1981. Serial 1T0. 512,890.

This invention relates to freezing trays especially such as are used for freezing ice in domestic refrigerators;

An object of this invention is to provide an improved form of tray and grid whereby rapid freezing of the ice may be obtained and at the same time easy removal of the frozen ice may be had without holding the tray and grid under running water.

A more specific object is to provide the combination of a flexible non-metallic water container without integral partitions and a removable partition grid adapted to beset loosely therein, said grid having hollow double-wall metal partitions and means for slightly flexing the walls of the partitions inwardly to break the bond with the frozen ice and facilitate the removal of the ice. The hollow partitions also serve as cold air cir culating spaces to provide more rapid heat transfer from the water to the surrounding cold air.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Numeral 10 designates in its entirety a molded flexible rubber container having relatively thin side walls and bottom and a stiffening metal wire frame 11 molded in situ around the upper edge thereof. Preferably container 10 has an integrally molded handle 12 which also preferably is reinforced with a metal wire insert 13 extending therethrough and rigidly secured to the wire frame 11 as shown in Fig. 2. In cases where the freezing tray is intended to be inserted as a drawer in a corresponding narrow opening in a freezing chamber, it is preferable to provide an integrally molded sealing front 15 of flexible rubber spaced a short distance from the end of container 10, as clearly illustrated in the drawing.

The metal partition grid 20 is adapted to be inserted loosely within the flexible rubber container 10 as shown. This grid 20 comprises a series of hollow metal partitions 21, which are preferably made from thin sheet copper plated with tin, and the double walls 22 thereof are welded or soldered together at their ends 23 so that they will form cold air pockets 25 extending down into the water and contacting with the bottom wall of container 10 to obtain rapid freezing of the water. The hollow partitions 21 are held together to form a unitary removable grid 20 by the transversely extending metal bars 26 and 27. In the form illustrated, there are two bars 26 each of which is fixed to small cars 28 on the right side wall (as viewed in the drawing) of each of the double-wall partitions 21, while the central bar 27 is similarly fixed to small cars 29 on the left side wall 22 of each hollow partition 21. By this means when handles 30 and 31, on bars26 and 27 respectively, are pulled in opposite directions the flexible metal walls 22 of the hollow partitions will be slightly flexed inwardly as shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, thus loosening the frozen ice bars from the metal partitions 21 and permitting the easy removal of said ice bars without holding the grid under a. water faucet as is now done with metal grids.

In operation, the container 10 may be filled with water to the desired level, as shown by the dot and dash line 19 in Fig. 2, and then the removable grid 20 set in place therein in the position illustrated. and the tray inserted into the freezing chamber upon a cold metal bottom support. Heat is quickly conducted from the water to the metal walls 22 of the hollow partitions 21 and these metal walls 22 are readily cooled by the cold air in the pockets 25. These pockets 25, being open at the top, remain filled with the coldest surrounding air since the coldest air is heavier and will fall by gravity into the pockets 25. and as soon as it takes up heat from the walls 22 it will rise and be replaced by other cold air. This downward circulation of cold air into the hollow partitions 21 is an important feadouble-wall gaging th ture of this invention. Since the bottom loops of partitions 21 rest upon the relatively thin :onducted from the metal partitions 21 to the cooled metal support upon which the container 10 may rest. If the container 10 is made of metal instead of the flexible rubber as illustrated, the above described transfer of heat from partitions 21 through the bottom of the container is very rapid.

After the ice is frozen, the entire ice contents and grid may be readily removed as a unit from container 10 by flexing the rubber walls and bottom thereof. Thehandles and artition and the other bar ene eft side thereof, whereby said exible walls may be slightly flexed by actubottom of container 10, heat is also readily ating said bars.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

31 are then pulled oppositely by hand to flex the metal walls 22 inwardly as described above, after which the ice bars will either drop out or may be readily pushed out from above, without holding the grid under a faucet as is ordinarily done.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form. it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A freezing tray for refrigerators comprising: a container adapted to hold water and a removable partition grid unit adapted to be set within saidcontainer to divide the frozen contents into a plurality of blocks, said ,e'rid having aplurality of parallel arranged hollow metal partitions open at the top edges thereof to permit easy circulation of cold air within said hollowpartitions, and means extending across the tops of said hollow partitions to hold them in place but permit the opposite walls of a partition to flex inwardly.

2. A freezing tray for refrigerators com prising: a con aineradapted to hold water and a removable partition grid unit adapted to be set within said container to div de the frozen contents into a pluralitv of b ocks, said grid having a series of double-wall thin flexible metal partitions and means for simultaneously flexing all of said flexible walls for breaking; the bond wi h the ice whereby to facilitate removal of said ice blocks.

3. A freezing trav comprising: a container and a removable grid therefor adapted to be set losely therein. said arid havinsrspaced double-wall partitions of relatively thin fleiii blemetal, and cross members secured to the upper edges of said partitions for manually flexing said metal walls inwardly to fa ilitate removal of the frozen contents of said tray.

4. A freezing tray comprising: a container and a removable grid therefor adapted to be set loosely therein, said grid having spaced double-wall partitions of relatively thin flexible metal, and two transverse bars secured to the upper portions of said partitions, one of said bars engaging the right side wall of each RALPH H. CHILTON. 

